The AWIPS Forecast Preparation System

Table of Contents

1.1 Background
1.1.1 National Weather Service Modernization
1.1.2 Acquisition of AWIPS
1.2 Objective
1.3 NWS Requirements and Assumptions
1.3.1 Requirements
1.3.2 Basic Assumptions
1.3.2.1 Timely Delivery of AWIPS Equipment
1.3.2.2 AWIPS Contractor Assistance
1.3.2.3 FSL/TDL Will Port to AWIPS
1.3.2.4 Risk-Reduction WFOs are Unique Sites
1.3.2.5 Static AWIPS Architecture
1.3.2.6 Forecasters Will Work with Weather Elements
1.3.2.7 Techniques Not Designed for RFCs and NMC
1.3.2.8 Common Product Formats
1.3.2.9 Forecast Database Will be Used by Related Programs
1.3.2.10 Forecasters are Allowed to Edit Text Products
1.3.3 Integration with AWIPS
1.4 The Digital Forecast System
1.4.1 Project Scope
1.4.2 Overview of the System
1.4.3 Definition of Tasks
1.4.3.1 Phase I Tasks
1.4.3.2 Phase II Tasks
1.4.4 Related Projects
1.4.4.1 ICWF Project
1.4.4.2 FPA Project

2.1 New Operations Concept
2.2 The Forecast Process
Operations Scenario
2.3 Preparing Watches/Warnings/Advisories
2.4 Support for Other Functions
2.4.1 Quality Control
2.4.2 Monitoring
2.4.3 Coordination
2.4.4 Verification

3.1 Database Structure
3.2 Relationship to AWIPS Database
3.3 Weather Elements
3.3.1 General Weather Elements
Derived General Weather Elements
3.3.2 Service-Specific Weather Elements
3.4 Domain and Resolution
3.4.1 Spatial
3.4.2 Temporal

4.1 Numerical Model Guidance
4.2 Statistical Guidance
4.3 Manual Guidance and Forecasts

5.1 Direct from Model Grids
5.2 Using Statistical Methods
5.3 Using Interpretive Algorithms

6.1 Worksheet Initialization
6.2 Viewing and Modifying Weather Elements
6.2.1 Field Type
6.2.2 Graphical Depictions
6.2.3 Drawing and Modification Tools
6.2.4 Hidden and Related Tools
6.2.5 Hybrid Tools
6.2.6 Interactions Between Depictions
6.2.7 User Interface
6.2.8 Forecaster Use of the Tool Kit
6.3 Product Generation Selection

7.1 Extracting Point and Areal Data from Grids
7.2 Computing Product Parameters

8.1 Products
8.2 Product Generation Methodology(2)
8.2.1 Plain-language Forecasts
8.2.1.1 Zone Forecast Example
Precipitation Phrases(3)
Cloud Phrases(4)
Wind Phrases(5)
Temperature Phrases(6)
8.2.1.2 Other Forecast Phrases
8.2.1.3 User Control of Phrase Structure
8.2.2 Coded forecasts

9.1 Methodology
9.1.1 Method of Software Development
9.1.2 Software Development Environment
9.1.2.1 New Development Environment - FSL
Interim Development System
Object-Oriented Programming
Graphics Library
9.1.2.2 New Development Environment - TDL
9.2 Development Responsibilities
9.2.1 FSL
9.2.2 TDL
9.2.3 AWIPS Contractor
9.2.4 The AFWG
9.3 Development Plans
9.3.1 FSL
9.3.1.1 Prototype Stage
Tool Prototypes
Consistency Checks
Interactions Between Depictions
Temporal and Spatial Interpolation
Field Representations
Forecast Database
User Interface
Weather Elements
Integrated Prototypes
9.3.1.2 Build Stage
Familiarization with AWIPS
Build Operational Prototype on AWIPS
9.3.1.3 Risk Reduction Stage
DEN WFO Risk Reduction
Marine WFO Risk Reduction
Software Handoff to Contractor
9.3.2 TDL
9.3.2.1 ICWF
9.3.2.2 Statistical Guidance
9.3.2.3 Worksheet Initialization
9.3.2.4 Text Generators

10.1 Watch/Warning/Advisory Integration
10.2 Improved Derivation of Weather Elements
10.3 Developing 3-d Visualization and Manipulation Tools
10.4 Four-Dimensional Database
10.5 Interoffice Coordination and Boundary Reconciliation
10.6 Graphical and Gridded Forecast Products
10.7 Related Programs
10.8 Restricted Text Product Editing
10.9 Editing Model Output
10.10 Editing Model Input